SEATTLE — The University of Washington reported pro-Palestinian protesters caused more than $1 million in damage to the university’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building during a violent demonstration Monday night.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told KOMO News on Tuesday it was aware of 31 people who were arrested and booked into the King County jail in connection with the protest and occupation of the engineering building on the UW campus. The university said it was assessing the extent of the damage and working with law enforcement to address the situation.
The self-described pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves inside the nearly brand new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building on campus Monday evening. The building, which just opened with a “soft launch” to students in March, was funded in part with $50 million from the Washington state legislature.
PHOTOS | Protest damage inside UW Interdisciplinary Engineering Building
On Tuesday, a professor led KOMO News through the building to show how doors were pulled off hinges, others were glued shut, machine manufacturing tools worth thousands of dollars were broken and smashed and a Boeing mural – with fresh paint and signage – was defaced. The university described the damage to their CNC machine tools as “extensive.”
The UW said the building will be closed through the end of the week, but it’s possible the building could remain closed for the rest of the school year.
Yet, the University of Washington was reluctant to discuss any of it on Tuesday. The UW Police referred questions to University spokesperson Victor Balta, who told KOMO News no interviews would be granted and requested questions in writing. KOMO News submitted 10 questions to Balta.
ALSO SEE | UW condemns violent protests, vows to enhance campus safety measures
Balta wrote that the UW was unaware of any planned takeover of the IEB and “what occurred (Monday) night in no way compares to last year’s encampment. (Monday’s) incident involved immediate threats to safety for those inside and around the building and was resolved within a few hours. More than 30 arrests were made and there were no known injuries. The UW takes safety and security seriously, and last night’s response demonstrated that.”
Balta also wrote that the university values its strong partnership with Boeing and acknowledged that the company donated $10 million to the now damaged building.
“At least two dozen classes are being moved to other locations while the build remains closed for the rest of the week,” Balta wrote in response to a question about the closure of the building. “These impact the majority of departments in the College of Engineering, and primarily undergraduate education. Classes include introduction to biomechanics and core principles of human design centered engineering.”
RELATED: Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested after occupying UW building
Balta also claims any student faces immediate suspension if proved to have a connection to the destruction.
When asked, in a written question, how the UW allowed the violence to occur, Balta wrote, “It wasn’t ‘allowed to happen.’ Again, this is a campus with a community that is equal to or larger in size than many cities in our state. It is a complex environment every day, and we assess and make decisions that prioritize safety every day. UWPD responded swiftly, in conjunction with law enforcement partners from around the area, and resolved the situation with no known injuries.”
At around 5 p.m. Monday, pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the IEB on campus, renaming it after Shaban al-Dalou, a teenage engineering student who was killed along with his mother after an Israeli airstrike caused an inferno outside of a Gaza hospital.
The students demanded the university cut all ties with Boeing, including returning any Boeing donations and barring the company’s employees from teaching at or otherwise influencing the school as war continues in Gaza.
Two streets near the building were blocked, as well as entrances to the building, which were barricaded with furniture, e-scooters, and other items.
The group of students, known as SUPER UW, released a manifesto Monday evening, demanding:
“WE DEMAND: UW will no longer be complicit in genocide. WE DEMAND: that our tuition money and our research not be used to fund and fuel genocide. Students have occupied the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building and declared that this building, renamed the Shaban al-Dalou Building will not be used to fund genocide, but to meet the needs of students and community.
Boeing out of the IEB. Repurpose the building into a community-controlled space with pro-people education.Boeing out of UW. Stop receiving any and all donations from Boeing. Return any existing donations, financial investments, and eliminate all other material ties to Boeing. Prohibit Boeing executives and employees from teaching classes or having any influence over curriculum.End the expulsion, suspension, and all repression and targeted assault of pro-Palestine activism and activists, especially providing protections for our fellow students being targeted by the federal government for their immigration status,” it read, in part.
SUPER UW spokesperson Eric Horford told KOMO News the group planned to continue protests until the university heard its message.
“We are going to be here until our demands are met. We are here to negotiate with the university, and we are hoping they’ll hear us and speak with us,” he said.
PHOTOS | Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy UW campus building
Shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, protesters began burning trash from a dumpster used to block one of the campus streets. Police donned gear and stepped in just after 10:30 p.m. when the protest became dangerous and those involved broke into the building, according to the UW. Officers wearing SWAT gear were seen trying to get the situation under control.
Police were still monitoring the area Tuesday after UW campus police contacted the Seattle Police Department for “mutual aid assistance,” according to the SPD.
UW President Ana Mari Cauce released a statement Tuesday afternoon condemning Monday night’s “violent and illegal occupation” of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building on campus. The statement says, in part:
This was no peaceful protest in support of Palestinian rights or against the war in Gaza. I condemn this dangerous, violent and illegal building occupation and related vandalism. I also condemn in the strongest terms the group’s statement celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. The University will not be intimidated by this sort of horrific and destructive behavior and will not engage in dialogue with any group using or condoning such destructive tactics. We will continue our actions to oppose antisemitism, racism and all forms of biases so that ALL our students, faculty, staff and visitors can feel safe and welcome on our campuses.
Cauce’s statement also says King County jail staff were working to identify those who were arrested, so it was currently unknown “how many are UW students or community members.” Click here to read her full statement.
The arrests come amid a Trump administration crackdown on international students who took part in pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. colleges and universities. More than 1,000 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
